Xbox Live gaming coming to iOS and Android?

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While Windows Phone is searching for a clear identity, one of the features it can hang its hat on is Xbox Live integration. The mobile OS has the Microsoft gaming service baked into it, with account management, social features, and limited gaming support. That last part — gaming support — is key, because when that eventually expands (coinciding with advancements in mobile devices) it could be a much bigger advantage for Windows Phone. … or not. A new job posting suggests that Microsoft may be bringing the gaming center to other mobile platforms, including iOS and Android.

Microsoft has already released a My Xbox Live app for iOS, but it lacks gaming support. The job posting says that it plans to take the Xbox Live gaming and entertainment experience to mobile devices. It specifically refers to Windows Phone, iOS, and “other mobile platforms” (read: Android). An Xbox Live “developer familiar with Microsoft’s plans” also confirmed the move, saying that there’s no way Microsoft would ignore other platforms.

This wouldn’t mean much at the present moment, as Windows Phone’s Xbox Live gaming library is limited to casual titles. But, as mobile gaming moves forward, it could mean something. A future Xbox Live Arcade, which keeps console-quality games synced across multiple platforms, would be an attractive destination for gamers.

So why throw a bone to rival mobile platforms? It’s a double-edged sword for Microsoft, as having properties like Office and Xbox Live on other platforms offer more opportunity to make money, but doing so takes away some exclusivity from its own platforms. Historically, the company tends to err on the side of wider availability, as evidenced by Office for Mac OS X and the recently-released My Xbox Live app for iOS. There is even a rumored Office for iPad app in the works.

Unless you’re a die-hard Windows Phone fan, it’s hard to see how anyone loses from having Xbox Live on other mobile platforms. Microsoft has the potential to benefit the most, as it will give the company a foot firmly planted in the still-burgeoning mobile gaming industry.